Introduction. Not your average MBA prospect

Hello everyone,

As you can read from the subject line, I am not your average MBA prospect. I'm 38 years old with 20 years of work experience. Former military (10 years- 5 active 5 reserves). I have accomplished a lot in those 20 years without a degree. I've had the opportunity to manage teams and also have been a department head. I have worked very hard. And I do have a lot of experience. Now, your question probably is: "Why is this guy here?"

Simple, after I left the service I enrolled into an electrical engineering program (evening) and I was working full time. I was single and enjoyed my job and school a whole lot. Three years later I got a job offer paying 3 times what I was earning. I dropped out to follow the money. Do I regret it? Sometimes.

I was hired to create and run a training department for our Latin America Division. I traveled a lot and had great bonuses. The best job I could ask for. The joy lasted 2 years. The company went through 2 mergers in 1 year. It was devastating. The office closed and I was out of a job. The job market was not great in 2002. A year later I got married after getting an offer from a wireless carrier to run their billing department in the Caribbean. Another merger and I was out of a job because the company sold the Caribbean venture to an International company. The last 6 years have not been easy. I have worked as a Business consultant traveling all over and I think it was time to take care of some unfinished business.

Last year I decided to finish my undergrad degree in business. I enrolled in the most criticized school in any forum. The University of Phoenix. I will finish my courses in march. There is hard studying in those courses. Some of you may kick it around, but I'm busting my butt. Normally students take 1 class for 5 weeks. I'm taking 2 classes a month to finish all my coursework. It's tough specially when you are assigned to a team and some of them just sit on their butt during the team assignments and others like me have to carry the load. I don't care I just want to finish. I made that decision because I needed to finish. Speed was a factor. I have to live with my prior decisions and I'm fine with that.

I'm here to learn and I am open to receive advice. I've been around the site and I have read the great success stories and not so great success stories. Some of you may say, "Why go through this Stay in U of Phoenix." I say to those skeptics, it has been done before, I know people that did their undergrad in University of Phoenix, scored a great GMAT and got accepted to top 20 schools. I don't aim that high. I'm looking at schools in Georgia, since that is where my wife's job is taking us. I am looking at FT MBA, Evening MBA and EMBA. My ultimate goal is to become a college professor. Looking back at my career, and after a thorough self-analysis I came to the realization that I love Teaching, training and coaching. Sharing knowledge is something I really enjoy. When you look back at your former subordinates and find out that they are holding management positions and that every now and then they call you for advice. You know you did your job right.

38 yrs old (tomorrow)
3.4 GPA
GMAT in January
Schools I’m interested in: Emory, GA Tech

I hope the GMAT Club can help me in my quest.

<Sanheck steps off soapbox>


Thank you!